Earth ChangesS


Attention

Lioness kills woman in Gujarat, India - 3rd such incident in the state in 3 months

Lioness captured after the attack
© ETV BharatLioness captured after the attack
Two separate wild animal attacks in Gujarat's Amreli district on the same day have created fear among villagers. A 45-year-old woman was killed in a lioness attack, while a five-year-old girl was seriously injured after being attacked by a leopard, police said on Tuesday.

According to police, the fatal incident took place in Govindpur village under the Dalkhaniya Range of Dhari Gir East on Monday. The deceased woman has been identified as Manju Solanki. She was watering a mango orchard near the river area when a lioness suddenly attacked her. According to eyewitnesses, the lioness mauled her severely. Local villagers rushed to help and managed to rescue her from the animal's grip. However, she died from her injuries before she could be taken for medical treatment.

Forest department officials and police personnel reached the spot soon after receiving information. The department immediately launched an operation to capture the lioness. Four cages were placed in different directions to trap the animal.

Comment: See also: 4-year-old killed by lioness in Gujarat, India - 2nd such incident for the state in 2 months

To provide some context the whole of the Indian lion population (which exists solely in the state of Gujarat) according to Wikipedia stands at just 891 individuals:
[...]

The Indian population has steadily increased since 2010. In 2015, the 14th Asiatic Lion Census was conducted over an area of about 20,000 km2 (7,700 sq mi); the lion population was estimated at 523 individuals, and in 2017 at 650 individuals. In 2020 the population was 674 and by 2025 it had increased to 891.

[...]
Illustrating the rare and atypical nature of this event for Asiatic lions, Wikipedia also mentions only 2 other recent killings - in 2012 and 2013:
[...]

In July 2012, a lion dragged a man from the veranda of his house and killed him about 50 - 60 km (31 - 37 miles) from Gir Forest National Park. This was the second attack by a lion in this area, six months after a 25-year-old man was attacked and killed in Dhodada

[...]



Cloud Precipitation

Best of the Web: Record flooding across France as winter storms fall on saturated ground

Storms have left large parts of France underwater, with record levels of flooding after heavy rain fell on already saturated soil. In Paris, the Seine is four metres above its normal level, forcing the closure of the riverside motorway and some commuter rail stations.
Tonneins
© AFPTonneins, southwest France

Authorities are warning of a "widespread flood event" across France, according to the national flood monitoring service Vigicrues.

Soil moisture levels are at unprecedented levels, and the ground can no longer absorb additional water.

The Garonne River burst its banks in several parts of south-western France, following several extreme weather events, including the violent Storm Nils that tore through France and Spain on Thursday.

Flood levels peaked on Saturday and Sunday in the Gironde and Lot-et-Garonne departments, though Vigicrues warned that the river could continue to flood in the coming hours and could rise again this week with more bad weather.

Comment: It's a similar situation in most of western Europe, from the Iberian Peninsula to the British Isles: endless rain and waterlogged land.

And there's more to come:




Volcano

Yellowstone's supervolcano is creating a 19-mile bulge

Yellowstone Caldera
© Deposit PhotosYellowstone averages between 1500 and 2500 earthquakes per year.
In Yellowstone National Park, a bulge the size of 279 football fields has risen by an inch since last July. With no signs of slowing down, the bump that's roughly 19 miles across may cause some worry that the iconic locale's hibernating supervolcano is readying for an apocalyptic reawakening. Although impressed by the situation, the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory's scientist-in-charge doesn't sound particularly worried.

"I think it's pretty stunning even if it's not particularly unusual," Mike Poland recently explained to Cowboy State Daily.

This particular example of uplift or deformation is occurring at the northern rim of Yellowstone Caldera in northwest Wyoming. However, it's far from the first time researchers documented the geological occurrence. The most recent instance spanned around 16 years before wrapping up in 2020. In 1996, yet another deformation took place over four years. These events aren't visible to the average park visitor, but they can be dramatic when viewed by highly sensitive seismological equipment and other observational tools.

"We can see things that are moving up and away from this area of uplift on radar maps and satellites we use to measure this sort of thing," said Poland, adding that his team monitors the park with 17 GPS stations that help determine where the uplift started.

Comment:
Key Facts from USGS and Recent Monitoring (as of early 2026):
  • Yellowstone is not "overdue" for a major eruption. The last three large caldera-forming eruptions occurred approximately 2.08 million, 1.3 million, and 631,000 years ago. The average interval is roughly 725,000-735,000 years, but volcanoes don't follow strict schedules — this average is based on only two intervals and isn't predictive. Even by that rough math, another ~90,000-100,000 years would pass before it might be considered "due," but that's not how volcanology works.
  • The most recent volcanic activity (lava flows) was about 70,000 years ago. Smaller hydrothermal explosions occur occasionally, but nothing points to anything larger soon.
  • Current status (from the latest USGS Yellowstone Volcano Observatory update in February 2026): Activity is at background levels. There's ongoing subtle ground deformation (e.g., minor uplift near the north caldera rim starting in 2025, similar to past episodes like 1996-2004), low-level seismicity (normal for the area), and the alert level is NORMAL/GREEN. No magma-driven warning signs like rapid uplift, intense earthquake swarms, or unusual gas releases are present.
  • The magma chamber is only partially molten (5-15% in key areas), and recent studies (including 2025 analyses) show the magma isn't sufficiently connected or mobilized for a major eruption anytime soon. Odds of a super-eruption (VEI 8 scale) in any given year are extremely low — far lower than many other natural risks.
  • If a large eruption ever happens again (possible but not guaranteed), scientists expect detectable precursors (earthquakes, deformation, gas changes) for weeks to years in advance, thanks to constant monitoring.



Snowflake

Snow buries French Alps as massive storm dumps nearly 7 feet of powder in 5 days

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© Tignes.Snowfalls were deep in Tignes.
Snowfall in France this week has been huge, with some resorts seeing more than 2 meters (6.6 feet) in the last five days. A massive winter storm hammered the French Alps from February 10 - 13, unleashing monster snowfall that has buried resorts and reshaped the mountain landscape just days before Valentine's Day weekend.

Across the Northern Alps — including iconic resorts in Haute-Savoie, Savoie, and Isère — weather stations reported extraordinary snow totals. The most snow fell at Grand Montets, part of Mont Blanc Natural Resort, which saw 2.13 meters (6.99) of snowfall in the last five days. Higher elevations above 1,800 - 2,000 meters were especially hard hit, with meters of new snow stacking up in tight time windows. Windy conditions associated with the powerful system also created deep wind slabs, making untouched slopes look like giant pillows of powder... and giant avalanche hazards.


Arrow Down

Massive sinkhole caused by landslides has formed in Central Aceh, Indonesia

mmmm
A farm has turned into a giant hole
A massive sinkhole has formed in Central Aceh, Indonesia, swallowing farmland and threatening the livelihoods of local farmers. The expanding sinkhole, caused by persistent soil movement and landslides, has destroyed crops and forced safety measures in surrounding areas.


Attention

Siberian tiger fatally attacks hunter in Russia

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© oneearth.org
A Siberian tiger attacked and killed a hunter in the Chuguyevsky district of Russia's Primorsky Region, according to the regional Ministry of Natural Resources.

The incident occurred on February 15, about 20 kilometers from the village of Izvilinka in a forested area, News.Az reports, citing TASS.

Authorities said the victim was delivering supplies to a feeding site when the attack took place. Law enforcement agencies informed that the man was a sailor who had returned home between voyages.

Following the fatal encounter, a special task force comprising police officers, hunting supervisors, and wildlife specialists has been deployed to track down the animal. The operation includes experts from the Amur Tiger Center, which focuses on the conservation of the endangered species.

According to Sergey Aramilev, director of the Amur Tiger Center, the tiger may have been injured and could have attacked in self-defense. Authorities continue to search for the animal while investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.

SOTT Logo Media

SOTT Focus: SOTT Earth Changes Summary - January 2026: Extreme Weather, Planetary Upheaval, Meteor Fireballs

ecs0126
It seems like Solar Cycle 25 still has some surprises in store with sudden high-level activity despite being "post-peak". An X1.9-class flare erupted on January 18 at 18:09 UTC from AR4341, classified as the strongest of the month, triggering an R3 radio blackout and followed by a fast coronal mass ejection (CME) traveling at around 1700 km/s toward Earth. This led to a severe S4 solar radiation storm on January 19 — the first such event since 2003 — posing risks to astronauts and polar flights, while producing vivid auroras visible globally.

The spikes in solar activity have influenced this month's seismic activity, amplified storm intensity, and contributed to atmospheric instabilities worldwide.

January 2026 saw extreme weather, including record snowfall in North America and unseasonal cold snaps in Europe, alongside devastating floods and landslides in Asia and Africa. Seismic activity included multiple magnitude 6+ earthquakes in Mexico, Japan, the Philippines, and Pakistan. Volcanic eruptions at Mayon and Merapi in the Philippines and Indonesia posed aviation risks, while severe storms like atmospheric rivers and cyclones caused widespread disruptions. Meteor fireballs were sighted across the U.S. and Europe,

Windsock

Severe dust storm pushes Jerusalem, Tel Aviv to top of global pollution index

Tel Aviv under heavy haze, February 14, 2026.
© Erik Marmor/Flash90Tel Aviv under heavy haze, February 14, 2026.
Widespread dust blanketed Israel on Saturday, reducing visibility in most of the country and sending Tel Aviv and Jerusalem to the top of the global pollution index.

Air quality surveyors ranked Jerusalem and Tel Aviv as the world's most polluted cities, with pollutant levels— specifically fine particles —exceeding "hazardous" levels in many parts of Israel.

Air quality monitoring site IQAir listed the Israeli cities above Almaty, Kazakhstan; Lahore, Pakistan and Kolkata, India.

The Health Ministry recommended that populations sensitive to dust —people with heart or lung conditions, the elderly, children, and pregnant women — avoid strenuous outdoor activity.

Other health recommendations included closing windows, wearing a mask—even indoors —and running an air purifier.


Seismograph

Magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck off the coast of the Kuril Islands

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An earthquake of magnitude 6.0 was recorded off the coast of the Kuril Islands.

Вata on the seismic event was published on the website of the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre, News.Az reports.

According to his data, the epicenter was located 599 km southwest of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and 285 km southwest of Severo-Kurilsk. The epicenter was located at a depth of approximately 55 km.

There were no reports of possible damage or casualties. Details of the incident are being clarified.

Tsunami

New Zealand's North Island braces for more rain amid widespread flooding

Flooding in Otorohanga, New Zealand.
© RNZ: Marika KhabaziFlooding in Otorohanga, New Zealand.
New Zealand's weather bureau has issued a warning for heavy rain and strong winds across the country's North Island tonight.

The warning comes a day after floods caused power outages, road collapses and home evacuations.

Authorities said a man was killed yesterday after his car became submerged in floodwaters on a highway.

MetService said there was a "threat to life from dangerous river conditions, significant flooding and slips" as a deepening low-pressure system east of the North Island brings heavy rain and severe gales.